Industry News
Omega Raises its Warranty to 5 Years on all Watches

And that means all movements, including the Speedmaster Moonwatch and non Master Chronometer watches.

Following the trend for more services, more clarity and more security, Omega just announced it will now offer a 5-year warranty on all newly purchased watches – with immediate effect. Until now, the Omega warranty was different depending on the type of products – up to 4 years on Master Chronometer watches, compared to a traditional 2-year warranty in the industry (which was the warranty offered, as of now, on the Speedmaster Moonwatch, for instance).

In 2015, Omega raised industry standards with the introduction of the Master Chronometer certification. Thanks to this new process, each watch is tested enduring stringent tests approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). These replicate real-life conditions and in particular, watches must demonstrate resistance to magnetic fields of 15,000 Gauss (to find out more, you can watch our in-depth video about the Master Chronometer certification process here). The brand inaugurated its new manufacture in Biel just one year ago. Today, Omega is so confident of the quality of its watches that it offers a 5-year warranty.

This new warranty is offered as of November 2nd, 2018 – and on all watches, regardless of the movement inside the watch. It means that even the Speedmaster, with its classic hand-wound calibre 1861, or a simple De Ville Automatic, with ETA-modified calibre 2500, will be covered. Good news too for current clients: if you have recently purchased an Omega, the 5-year warranty will also be applied retroactively (for any new Omega watch purchased on or after July 1st, 2018).

The vast majority of luxury watchmakers tend to stick to an industry standard 2-year warranty (which is mainly driven by EU laws that require 2 years as a minimum warranty period). Rolex led the way in strengthening warranties. The “Crown” has been offering a 5-year warranty since 2015. A few other brands followed suit. For instance, Audemars Piguet and Ulysse Nardin offer a warranty extension to 5 years (upon registration of their website).

5 responses

Richard Mille also offers 3+2 warranty. 3 by default + 3 if you service the watch in first three years. In that case this first service is free. Also interesting is the watch CAN be damaged, they only say that if the watch has obvious signs it was crashed.

That’s all well and good, but what about extended service intervals? At the price you pay for some of the high-end AP, Patek, Lange, or independent timepieces,you’d expect a lifetime warranty inclusive of free servicing at the very least. And no, don’t make the car comparison; my car is way more useful than public transport so I can justify the cost of the car plus servicing (I get 5 years free servicing with mine already). My mechanical watch can’t even compete with my Casio or iPhone for accuracy.

The Richard Mille warranty of 3+2 is not a 5 warranty at all. If you have a watch serviced by the manufacturer then you always get a warranty of 2 years (as required by various legislations including the EU) on the warranty work and thus the watch. The Richard Mille warranty is therefore a standard 3 year warranty. The Omega warranty described in the same terms is a 5+2 year warranty. If you buy the watch and on the fifth anniversary of its purchase get it serviced you would then get the additional 2 years on top giving you in effect a 7 year warranty. So the Omega warranty is still well beyond what Richard Mille are offering.